Sailors serving at Naval Support Facility (NSF) Deveselu, Romania, celebrated the 240th Birthday of the Navy, Oct. 16, during the command's first formal Navy Ball since the installation's establishment in October 2014.

The installation is co-located with the Romanian 99th Military Base, and the U.S. Sailors' Romanian counterparts happily shared in this American naval tradition.

Romanian Navy Command Master Chief Ionel Burtica, the ball's guest speaker, spoke on the importance of recognizing and celebrating national military history, as well as the friendships that have developed between the two militaries over the past year.

"Together with the American [Sailors], I feel a lot of confidence, admiration and joy. And I hope in the future to be together like the great master chief said, 'One team one fight one winner,'" said Burtica. "Knowing the American professional military was very powerful and helpful, we are very proud we could work together. Our cooperation was not just professional work, it was a friendship too."

As the first time that this honored event has taken place at Deveselu, the command wanted to ensure that, like the base, the celebration was a combined event with the 99th Military. The theme for this year's birthday celebration was "Ready Then. Ready Now. Ready Always."

"We are pioneers of our times, beginning a new chapter of strong partnership with our hosts and long lasting friendships," said NSF Deveselu Commanding Officer Capt. Bill Garren. "This is evident here today as we stand joining forces with Romania, standing by to answer the call. It has been a daunting journey to get where we are, and we continue to make great progress. By the end of this year, the Romanian and American team in Deveselu is scheduled to stand up the most sophisticated missile defense system known to mankind. We will stand ready to defend our nation and our allies."

As the first Navy shore installation commissioned since Everett, Wash., in 1987, NSF Deveselu is located in south-central Romania aboard the Romanian 99th Military Base. When completed, its mission will be to provide installation facilities, resources, and services to support and enable the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System (AAMDS).

AAMDS is part of Phase II of the European Phased Adaptive Approach to ballistic-missile defense in Europe and is scheduled to become fully operational later this year. Utilizing the U.S. Navy's proven at-sea missile defense capability adapted for shore application, the plan for EPAA builds on the Standard Missile-3 now deployed around the world.

For more news from Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, visit http://www.navy.mil/.